Sources show suppliers get exposure

Overseas companies eager to break into the U.S. market, or expand what they have already, joined the exhibitor list of the new Sources show here at Pier 94 last week.

The show, which sought to connect non-U.S. producers and exporters to U.S.-based companies, included a handful of textiles companies among the 400 companies from 26 countries.

"I'm not going make a dime at this show," said Vivek Jolly, co-partner, Profile India, New Delhi, India, because the bulk of his business is conducted in October. But he's here for the exposure and to meet new accounts.

Profile already sends 60 percent of its business to the U.S., Jolly said. His decorative pillows, tree skirts and stockings emphasize the holiday season, so the timing of Sources was wrong for him, he said.

Decor Evolutions is the new U.S. office, located in New York, of a Thailand-based company that make table, bath and gift sets. The company decided to add the new office to be closer to the U.S. based retailers it works with, which targets the mid tier level, like discounters and catalogs.

Bangkok, Thailand-based Siphya was in the Untied States for the first time because "we want to know the market," said Phannee Chirangboonkil, managing director. Though it mostly sells furniture, it recently introduced its first textiles group of bed covers, pillows and upholstery to coordinate. It targets hotel and restaurants and interior designers.

Jallpa Nina, a Lima, Peru ceramics producer, used the show to debut its new textiles group of rugs and pillows in pre-Columbian culture designs. It already ships ceramics to such artists as Jonathan Adler here, said Eduardo Deneumostier.

The show was also the first visit to the United States by Krishna Sales Corp., a Noida, India-based manufacturer of bath products. Looking around at the gift and decorative accessories exhibitors, Gaurav Khetan, director of business development, said, "I don't think this is really our show. But I think next time we'll go the [home] textiles show."